Here in Juneau, Alaska’s capital, we experienced the highlight of the ENTIRE trip, the helicopter ride to the Mendenhall Glacier. Dressing warmly, we put on the appropriate equipment—special studded boots to grab into the sleek icy surface.
The turbine helicopter ride, my first, was exhilarating and far beyond my expectations; in fact this was something I dreaded but felt necessary. How could I come to Alaska and not helicopter to a glacier?
My smile began and my white-knuckled grip relaxed even as the helicopter left the ground, and we soared over the landscape reveling in the blues, green, whites, and blacks—all vivid and magnificent.
From above we looked down on the alpine ridges and then viewed the deep crevasses and the colors of the ice. The blue is caused by the reflection of the sun on the water. We saw the ice falls where the Juneau Icefield overflows to form the Mendenhall Glacier.
On the surface of the glacier, Rob looked around and proclaimed quite rightly, “This is spiritual.” Each moment was an experience in Nature’s power, artistry, and creativity.
Our guide explained how glaciers form, flow, and shape the landscape. Gingerly, I walked on the glacier while Rob straddled and photographed a crevasse.
The water moving through the crevasses looked like Nature’s own monumental waterslide—a beautiful, natural flow of blue through the white ice and the lines of silt.
Enjoy the images I’ve captured to tweak my memory and to share with you.
The turbine helicopter ride, my first, was exhilarating and far beyond my expectations; in fact this was something I dreaded but felt necessary. How could I come to Alaska and not helicopter to a glacier?My smile began and my white-knuckled grip relaxed even as the helicopter left the ground, and we soared over the landscape reveling in the blues, green, whites, and blacks—all vivid and magnificent.
From above we looked down on the alpine ridges and then viewed the deep crevasses and the colors of the ice. The blue is caused by the reflection of the sun on the water. We saw the ice falls where the Juneau Icefield overflows to form the Mendenhall Glacier.
On the surface of the glacier, Rob looked around and proclaimed quite rightly, “This is spiritual.” Each moment was an experience in Nature’s power, artistry, and creativity.
Our guide explained how glaciers form, flow, and shape the landscape. Gingerly, I walked on the glacier while Rob straddled and photographed a crevasse.
The water moving through the crevasses looked like Nature’s own monumental waterslide—a beautiful, natural flow of blue through the white ice and the lines of silt.
Enjoy the images I’ve captured to tweak my memory and to share with you.
travel trips vacations "third age" "third age traveler" "senior travel" photography "travel photos" photos "United States" U.S.A. Alaska Juneau "Mendenhall Glacier" tours cruises "Princess Cruises" helicopters nature ice glaciers crevasses
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4 comments:
Awesome slideshow! Thanks.
Vinny
Oh, WOW! the pictures were fabulous (especially those bridges!) I'd be terribly jealous but I'm too busy being happy you enjoyed it and chose to share it with me.... Thanks!
P.S. re: the ravine... Rob has more whatever than I do! ;)
I should hope so! I didn't go near the crevass. We had on studded boots, but I was afraid I'd fall and slide away to be lost forever! I walked "gingerly."
The whole Alaska trip posts leave me breathless and restless. Want to start making reservations. Ed liked the video of the salmon struggling upstream. Amazing that they can do that.I loved the Guernsey book as wall and I absolutely loved your encounter with the fellow reader. Louise
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